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Simulation of sedimentary Ore-Forming processes: Concentration of Pb and Zn from brines into organic and Fe-bearing carbonate sediments

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Zusammenfassung

Mit Hilfe eines experimentellen sedimentären Systems wurden die Mechanismen untersucht, welche zu einer möglichen Pb- und Zn-Anreicherung in Sedimenten aus schwefelarmen Lösungen führen können. In einem Tank von 4 m3 Inhalt wurden die chemischen, mineralogischen und biologischen Veränderungen aufgezeichnet.

In diesem experimentellen System wurden Pb und Zn zusammen mit Fe (III)-Hydroxiden (wahrscheinlich Lepidocrosite), organischen Substanzen und einer Reihe von Ca- und Mg-Karbonatphasen aus einer aeroben, stark salinen Lösung, welche Pb- und Zn-reich war und das üppige Wachstum der Grünanlage Chlorococcus sp. unterstützte, abgelagert.

Die daraus erhaltenen organischen Substanz- und eisenhaltigen Karbonatsedimente enthielten Pb bis zu 0,5% und Zn bis zu 1%. Die Konzentrationsfaktoren relativ zur überlagernden Lösung lagen zwischen 200 und 300.

Pb wurde überwiegend durch Mitfüllung mit den Karbonaten aus der Lösung entfernt, wobei der Pb-Gehalt der zwei wichtigsten Karbonatphasen höher im Aragonit als im Monohydrocalcit war. Zn wurde zusammen mit Lepidocrosite abgelagert. Die Komplexierung von Pb- und Zn durch organische Verbindungen und die direkte Ausfällung von Pb- und Zn-Karbonaten (oder Hydroxiden) trugen nur untergeordnet, wenn überhaupt, zu dem Konzentrationsproze\ bei.

Abstract

An experimental sedimentary system comprising a tank of 4 m3 capacity equipped for monitoring chemical, mineralogical, and biological changes has been used to investigate the mechanisms by which Pb and Zn may be removed from solution in sulphide-deficient brines and concentrated in sediments.

In the experimental system, Pb and Zn together with ferric hydroxides (probably lepidocrosite), organic matter, and a variety of calcium and magnesium carbonate phases, were deposited from an aerobic, highly saline, Pb and Zn-rich brine supporting a vigorous growth of the green alga Chlorococcus sp. The resultant organic and Febearing carbonate sediments contained Pb up to 0.5% and Zn up to 1.0%. Overall concentration factors compared with the overlying brine were in the range 200 to 300.

Pb was removed from solution mainly by coprecipitation with carbonate phases; the Pb content of the two major carbonate phases decreasing in the order aragonite to monohydrocalcite. Zn was deposited in association with the Fe-bearing minerals. Complexing of Pb and Zn by organic matter, and the direct precipitation of Pb and Zn carbonates and/or hydroxides made, at most, a secondary contribution to the overall concentration process.

Résumé

Un système expérimental de sédimentation composé d'un réservoir de 4 m3 de capacité, équipé pour l'étude des modifications chimiques, minéralogiques et biologiques, a été utilisé pour rechercher les mécanismes par lesquels le plomb et le zinc peuvent Être précipités de leur solution dans des eaux salées déficientes en sulfures, et concentrés dans le sediment.

Dans ce système expérimental, le plomb et le zinc se sont déposés, en mÊme temps que des hydroxydes ferriques (probablement la lépidocrosite), des matières organiques et une variété de phases carbonatés de calcium et de magnésium, et ce, à partri d'une solution saline, riche en Pb et Zn, et aérobic qui favorisait la croissance vigoureuse d'algues vertes «Chlorococcus sp.» Les sédiments carbonatés, chargés de fer et de substances organiques, ainsi obtenus, contenaient jusqua'à 0.5% de plomb et 1.0% de zinc. Les facteurs globaux de concentration comparés à ceux de l'eau salée surnageant allaient de 200 à 300.

Le plomb a été retire de la solution en majeure partie par coprécipitation avec les carbonates. La Xeneur en plomb des deux phases carbonatées principales était plus élevée dans l'aragonite que dans la monohydrocalcite. Le zinc à été déposé en association avec les minéraux contenant du fer. La constitution d'un complexe de Pb et de Zn par des matières organiques, et la précipitation directe de carbonates et/ou d'hydroxydes de Pb et de Zn, n'apportaient, tout au plus, qu'une contribution secondaire au procédé global de concentration.

кРАткОЕ сОДЕРжАНИЕ

ЁкспЕРИМЕНтАМИ с ОсА ДОЧНОИ сИстЕМОИ Иссл ЕДОВАлИ МЕхАНИжМ НАкОплЕНИь Pb И Zn В ОсАДкАх БЕДНых сЕ РОИ РАстВОРОВ. В сОсУД Е НА 4 М3 ИжУЧАлИ пРЕОБРАжОВА НИь хИМИЧЕскОгО, МИНЕРАл ОгИЧЕскОгО И БИОлОгИ ЧЕскОгО хАРАктЕРА. цж ЁтОИ сИстЕМы, сОДЕРжА ЩЕИ РАстВОР пОВышЕНН ОИ сОлЕНОстИ БОгАтыИ Pb И Zn, В кОтОРОИ В АЕРОБНых УслОВИьх ВыРАЩИВАлИ жЕлЕНУУ ВОДОРОсИль Chlorococcus sp., ВыпАлИ Pb И Zn ВМЕстЕ с тР Е хВАлЕНтНыМ жЕлЕжОМг ИДРОксИД, ВЕРОьтНЕЕ ВсЕгО Lepidocrosite -, ОР гАНИЧЕскИЕ ВЕЩЕстВА И РьД кАльцИЕВых И МАгНИЕВых кАРБОНАт Ных МОДИФИкАцИИ. В кАРБОНАтНых ОсАДкА х, сОДЕРжАЩИх ОРгАНИЧ ЕскИЕ ВЕЩЕстВА И РЕ, сОДЕРжА НИЕ Pb ДОстИгАлО 0,5 %, a Zn 1 %. ФАктОР к ОНцЕНтРИРОВАНИь ОтНОсИтЕльНО ИсхОДНОгО РАстВОРА к ОлЕБАлсь От 200 ДО 300.

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Author notes

  1. James Ferguson &  Peter J. Davies

    Present address: Bureau of Mineral Resources and Geophysics, CSIRO. BMR Building, P.O. Box 378, 2501, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia

  2. Bohdan Bubela

    Present address: Division of Mineralogy, CSIRO. BMR Building, P.O. Box 378, 2501, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia

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    1. James Ferguson
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    2. Bohdan Bubela
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    3. Peter J. Davies
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    Ferguson, J., Bubela, B. & Davies, P.J. Simulation of sedimentary Ore-Forming processes: Concentration of Pb and Zn from brines into organic and Fe-bearing carbonate sediments. Geol Rundsch 64, 767–782 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01820695

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